Recording medium, method of configuring control information thereof, recording and reproducing method using the same, and apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

A data structure of a control information for use with a computer-readable recording medium having multiple recording layers. The control information includes first information unit for a first recording layer and second information unit for a second recording layer. The first information unit includes write strategy parameters for a first write strategy type to be used for the first recording layer, and the second information unit includes write strategy parameters for a second write strategy type to be used for the second recording layer. The second write strategy type being the same or different from the first write strategy type.

DOMESTIC PRIORITY

The present invention is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.10/918,397, filed Aug. 16, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,342,857 the entirecontents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FOREIGN PRIORITY

The present invention claims the benefit of Korean Application No.10-2003-0056540 filed on Aug. 14, 2003, Korean Application No.10-2003-0061785 filed on Sep. 4, 2003, Korean Application No.10-2003-0063591 filed on Sep. 15, 2003, and Korean Application No.10-2003-0065628 filed on Sep. 22, 2003, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to recording media, and more particularly,to a method of recording control information on a recordable opticaldisc including at least one recording layer, in which write strategyinformation is included within the recorded control information, and tomethod of recording data using the disc control information recorded ina specific area of the recordable optical disc.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A high density optical recording medium, known as HD-DVD, is widely usedto record and store high-definition video data and high-quality audiodata. The Blu-ray disc represents next-generation HD-DVD technology.

Technological specifications are now being established for the globalstandardization of the Blu-ray disc, including standards are for thewrite-once Blu-ray disc (BD-WO). Meanwhile, a rewritable Blu-ray disc,known as the 1×-speed BD-RE and now being discussed, should becompatible with BD-RE discs expected to have higher recordingvelocities, i.e., the 2×-speed BD-RE and beyond. BD-WO specificationsfor high recording velocity are also in progress. Efficient solutionsfor coping with the high recording velocity of a high-density opticaldisc are urgently needed, and the specifications established shouldensure mutual compatibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A data structure of a control information for use with a recordingmedium having multiple recording layers. The control informationincludes a first information unit for a first recording layer and asecond information unit for a second recording layer. The firstinformation unit includes write strategy parameters for the first writestrategy type to be used for the first recording layer, and the secondinformation unit includes write strategy parameters for the second writestrategy type to be used for the second recording layer. The secondwrite strategy type being the same or different from the first writestrategy type.

A method of recording data that includes reading a control informationwhere the control information has a first information unit for a writingspeed and a first recording layer and a second information unit for thesame writing speed and a second recording layer. The first informationunit includes write strategy parameters for the first write strategytype to be used for the writing speed and first recording layer, andsecond information unit including write strategy parameters for thesecond write strategy type to be used for the same writing speed andsecond recording layer. The second write strategy type being the same ordifferent from the first write strategy type. Thereafter, the methodcalls for recording a main data at the writing speed using thecorresponding write strategy parameters to the corresponding recordinglayer.

A method of recording data that includes reading a control informationwhere the control information has at least a first information unit fora first recording layer and a second information unit for a secondrecording layer. The first information unit including write strategyparameters for first write strategy type to be used for the firstrecording layer and the second information unit including write strategyparameters for second write strategy type to be used for the secondrecording layer. The first write strategy type is one of an n−1 writestrategy type and an n/2 write strategy type and the second writestrategy type is one of an n−1 write strategy type and an n/2 writestrategy type. The first write strategy type being different from thesecond write strategy type. The variable n is a length of mark and eachtype represents a number of write pulse to form a corresponding mark.Thereafter, the method calls for recording a main data using writestrategy parameters for first or second write strategy types at thecorresponding recording layer.

An apparatus for recording data that includes a controller forgenerating a recording command for a specific recording layer from amultiple layer recording medium and controlling a recording operation. Arecorder/reproducer is configured to perform a recording of data, basedon the recording command from the controller, by reading a controlinformation. The control information includes a first information unitfor a first recording layer and a second information unit for a secondrecording layer. The first information unit includes write strategyparameters for a first write strategy type to be used for the firstrecording layer and a second information unit including write strategyparameters for a second write strategy type to be used for the secondrecording layer. The first write strategy type is one of an n−1 writestrategy type and an n/2 write strategy type and the second writestrategy type is one of an n−1 write strategy type and an n/2 writestrategy type. The first write strategy type being the same or differentfrom the second write strategy type. The variable n is a length of markand each type represents a number of write pulses to form acorresponding mark. The recorder/reproducer performs the recording ofdata on the corresponding recording layer using the corresponding writestrategy type, according to a control of the controller.

An apparatus for recording data that includes a writing/reading unit toread at least one control information and to record a main data on aspecific recording layer from a multiple layer recording medium. Thecontrol information includes a first information unit for a writingspeed and a first recording layer and a second information unit for thesame writing speed and a second recording layer. The first informationunit includes write strategy parameters for a first write strategy typeto be used for the writing speed and the first recording layer, and thesecond information unit including write strategy parameters for a secondwrite strategy type to be used for the same writing speed and the secondrecording layer. The second write strategy type being different from thefirst write strategy type. Each write strategy type being one an n−1write strategy type and an n/2 write strategy type. The variable n is alength of mark and each type represents a number of write pulse to forma corresponding mark. A controller configured to control thewriting/reading unit to record the main data on each recording layerbased on first and second write strategy type, wherein the controllerdetermines a specific write strategy type to record the main data on thecorresponding recording layer and applies the determined write strategytype applicable to the corresponding recording layer.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a single-layer disc applicable to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a dual-layer disc applicable to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a management area where disc control informationof the present invention is recorded, illustrating a disc informationrecording format;

FIGS. 4A-4E are diagrams of a sample data structure of disc controlinformation recorded according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A-5C are diagrams of a sample data structure of disc controlinformation recorded according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6, FIGS. 7A & 7B, and FIG. 8 are diagrams of a sample datastructure of disc control information recorded according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A-9E are diagrams of t sample data structure of disc controlinformation recorded according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an optical disc recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Forconvenience of explanation, a Blu-ray disc (BD) is taken as an exampleof an optical disc according to the present invention. Yet, it isapparent that the concept of the present invention, which ischaracterized in an optical disc having its disc control informationrecorded thereon, is applicable to DVD-RAM/−RW/+RW/−R/+R and the likefor example in the same manner.

Besides, although terms used in the present invention are possiblyselected from the currently well-known ones, some terms are arbitrarilychosen by the applicant in some cases so that their meanings areexplained in detail in the following description. Hence, the presentinvention should be understood with the intended meanings of thecorresponding terms chosen by the applicant instead of the simple namesor meanings of the terms themselves.

First of all, ‘disc control information’ in the description of thepresent invention means an area including various information for discrecord playback or information for disc record playback. And, the disccontrol information is commonly designated information provided to aprerecorded area within a disc or to an embossed area for a disc user bya disc manufacturer. Yet, the disc control information is provided notonly to the prerecorded area but also to a recordable area. The discinformation within the prerecorded or embossed area can be copied to therecordable area as well. And, they are just exemplary.

For instance, the disc control information is called ‘disc information’in BD or ‘physical format information’ in DVD-RAM/−RW/+RW/−R/+R. Hence,it is apparent that the technical background of the present invention isidentically applicable to ‘physical format information’ inDVD-RAM/−RW/+RW/−R/+R. For convenience of explanation, ‘disc information(hereinafter abbreviated DI)’ corresponding to a case of Blu-ray disc(BD) is taken as an example.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are structural diagrams of optical discs according tothe present invention, in which a recordable optical disc is enough tobe the optical disc applicable to the present invention. Moreover, therecordable disc can be any one of a rewritable optical disc, awrite-once optical disc, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a single-layer disc having onerecording layer according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lead-in area is provided as a management area onan inner circumference area of an optical disc, whereas a lead-out areais provided as a management area on an outer circumference area of theoptical disc. Specifically, a prerecorded area and a rewritable orwrite-once area are separated from each other within the innercircumference area of the disc.

The prerecorded area is an area (called ‘embossed area’) where data wasalready written in manufacturing the disc, whereby a user or system isunable to perform data writing on the prerecorded area at all. InBD-RE/WO, the prerecorded area is named PIC (permanent information andcontrol data) area. And, the above-described disc information(hereinafter called ‘DI’) as information required for disc recording isrecorded in the PIC area.

In a data area, provided are a user data area where user's real data isrecorded and spare areas ISA and OSA to replace a generated defect area.Specifically, TDMA (temporary defect management area) for recordinginformation of defect and general managements is provided to such awrite-once optical disc as BD-WO. In case of the re-writable BD (BD-RE),TDMA is unnecessary so that such an area is left as a reserved area.

The present invention intends to provide a method of efficientlyrecording disc information (DI) as disc control information required forrecord playback of a disc in the prerecorded or recordable area. It isapparent that a recording method in the prerecorded area is differentlyapplied to each kind of discs. In case of BD-RE/WO, the PIC area as theprerecorded area is recorded by biphased high frequency modulatedsignals, the high frequency modulated signals in the corresponding areaare played back according to a specific playback method, and informationis acquired from the playback.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a dual-layer disc having dual recording layers,in which a recording layer starting with a lead-in is named a firstrecording layer Layer0 and a recording layer ending with a lead-out isnamed a second recording layer Layer1.

In the dual-layer disc, the PIC area is provided to lead-in and lead-outareas of a disc inner circumference area, and disc information (DI) ofthe same contents is recorded in the PIC area.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a PIC area in the disc shown in FIG. 1or FIG. 2. As mentioned in the foregoing description, it means thatinformation can be rearranged like the structure of the PIC area in FIG.3 when the entire information within the high frequency modulated PICarea is acquired.

A method of configuring disc information (DI) in the PIC area isexplained in detail as follows.

In BD-RE/WO, ‘one cluster’ represents a minimum record unit, fivehundred forty-four clusters gather to construct one fragment as oneupper record unit, and total five fragments gather to form the PIC area.Disc information is recorded in a front head cluster of a first fragmentIF0. The disc information is plurally recorded per recording layer andwriting speed permitted by the corresponding optical disc, and one discinformation includes one hundred twelve bytes. Specifically, discinformation constructed with 112-bytes is called disc information (DI)frame. Moreover, the same contents of the disc information arerepeatedly recorded in each front head cluster of the rest of thefragments, thereby enabling to cope with loss of the disc information.

Information representing the corresponding recording layer, informationrepresenting writing speed, and write strategy information correspondingto the writing speed are recorded within each disc information. Hence,such information is utilized in record playback of the correspondingoptical disc, thereby enabling to provide optimal write power perrecording layer and per writing speed.

Namely, the disc information (DI) of the present invention ischaracterized in providing specific writing speed information supportedby the corresponding disc and associated write strategy information, andmore specifically, in providing specific writing speed supported foreach recording layer and associated write strategy information via aspecified method in case that a plurality of recording layers exist inthe corresponding disc.

And, the specific configuration of the disc information (DI) relates tothat of Blu-ray disc (BD). It is also apparent that a DVD based disc mayhave a configuration different from the above-explained structure.Specifically, if a size of disc information (DI) corresponds to that ofBD, it is 112 bytes equivalently for example. Yet, by regarding discinformation (DI) of the same recording layer as one information toprovide once without repeating common information, it may be able toconfigure the write strategy differing per writing speed only inaddition.

Various embodiments for a method of configuring disc information and amethod of recording specific information and the like within discinformation according to the present invention are explained in detailby referring to the attached drawings as follows.

FIGS. 4A to 4E are diagrams of recording disc information of an opticaldisc according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in whichone of a plurality of write strategy (WS) types defined by aspecification is recorded on a corresponding disc information.

FIG. 4A shows a concept of recording disc information of an optical discaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a plurality of disc informations are recordedwithin a disc, a record sequence of each disc information is decided bya sequence number, and the record sequence is recorded by 1-byte. Forinstance, the corresponding information is recorded in 5^(th) bytewithin the disc information, which is named ‘DI frame sequence number inDI block’ field and is briefly indicated by ‘00h, 01h, 02h, 03h . . . ’.

Namely, the information of the 5^(th) byte is defined in a followingmanner. First of all, if the information of the 5^(th) byte is ‘00h’,‘00h’ means 1^(st) disc information as well as disc information of 1×speed of a first recording layer Layer0. ‘01h’ means 2^(nd) discinformation as well as disc information of 1× speed of a secondrecording layer Layer1. ‘02h’ means 3^(rd) disc information as well asdisc information of 2× speed of the first recording layer Layer0. And,‘03h’ means 4^(th) disc information as well as disc information of 2×speed of the second recording layer Layer1.

Hence, the disc information is preferentially arranged in a recordingvelocity order and is then configured in a per recording layer order.Yet, this is just exemplary. On the contrary, the recording layer ordercan be preferred to the recording velocity order in configuring discinformations.

Moreover, write strategy (WS) interoperating with recording velocitymeant by the corresponding disc information is recorded in a specificarea, e.g., area named ‘Write Strategy parameters’ field asL^(th)˜111^(th) bytes, within the disc information. And, identificationinformation enabling to identify a type or kind of the recorded writestrategy (WS) recorded in the L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes is recorded inanother specific area, e.g., area named ‘Write Strategy type’ field asN^(th) byte, within the disc information.

Considering the meaning of ‘write strategy (WS)’, a medium property of arecording layer is generally modified by applying a laser beam to therecording layer within an optical disc via a pickup (‘11’ in FIG. 10) toperform a recording thereof. Hence, it should be decided a strength(write power) of the laser beam, write pulse, a time of applying thewrite power thereto, and the like. The above-decided various kinds ofwrite strategies are named ‘Write Strategy (WS)’ in general and specificcontents recorded within a specific ‘Write Strategy (WS)’ are named‘Write Strategy (WS) parameters’.

Write strategy (WS) information used in the present invention means theentire information associated with write strategy (WS). And, WSparameters means items and specific numeric values configuring WS and isa sort of WS information. Hence, the WS information has an inclusiveconcept of including the above-described ‘WS Type’, ‘WS flag’ that willbe explained later, and the like as well as the WS parameters.

And, the write strategy (WS) can be recorded in various ways. As a discbecomes to be highly densified and to run at higher speed, a writingspeed, i.e., disc RPM) as well as the medium property of the recordinglayer is considerably affected. Hence, a more accurate system isrequested. And, the various write strategies (WS), i.e., WS types areexplained as follows for example.

First of all, there is a system having a number of recording pulsesmaller by 1 than a recording mark size (n) formed on a recording layermedium, which may be called ‘(n−1) WS’. For example, if a mark has alength 7T, it requires 6 pluses to form the 7T according to the (n−1)WS.In that case, a time of each write pulse or a level of write power isdefined by the write strategy parameters recorded in the correspondingdisc information. Secondly, there is a system having a number ofrecording pulse having a size amounting to a half of the recording marksize (n), which may be called ‘n/2 WS’. For example, if a mark has alength 7T, it requires 3 pluses to form the 7T according to the (n−1)WS.That is, a decimal fraction of the result is discarded and the integernumbers of pluses are only available. In that case, a time of each writepulse or a level of write power is defined by the write strategyparameters recorded in the corresponding disc information. Therespective write strategy parameters for each write strategy type mayhave different values each other. Besides, new write strategies (WS)keep being developed. Regarding the different kinds of write strategy(WS), when there exist the various systems of the write strategy (WS)exist as parameters applied to the write strategies (WS) differ fromeach other, a disc manufacturer tests the write power according to thewrite strategy (WS) and then records a result of the test in ‘WSparameters’ field of the L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes within the discinformation and WS type information in N^(th) byte.

If there exist N-types of write strategies (WS), the identificationinformation allocates a specific recognition value to each writestrategy (WS) to define as follows. For instance, ‘0000 0001b’ means1^(st) WS (Write Strategy-1 or WS-1). ‘0000 0010b’ means 2^(nd) WS(Write Strategy-2 or WS-2). ‘XXXX XXXXb’ means N^(th) WS (WriteStrategy-N or WS-N).

In the present invention, 1^(st) WS (WS-1) is defined by theabove-explained ‘(n−1) WS’ and 2^(nd) WS (WS-1) is defined by ‘(n/2)WS’.

Moreover, if the ‘WS Type’ field is set to ‘0000 0000b’, it can bedefined to mean that a specific WS type fails to exist as well as WSparameters within disc information. Namely, the ‘WS Type’ field of theN^(th) byte can be utilized as information indicating that there existsno WS parameters as well as information designating the WS type.

FIG. 4B shows an example of recording disc information for a specificwrite strategy (WS), in which a disc manufacturer selects to record1^(st) WS (WS-1) from various specifications in recording a writestrategy (WS) for 1× speed within 1× speed disc information of a firstrecording layer.

Namely, if ‘WS Type’ field of N^(th) byte of disc information is ‘0000001b’ means 1^(st) WS (WS-1), parameter values corresponding to theWS-1 are written in ‘Write Strategy parameters’ field of L^(th)˜111^(th)bytes.

Hence, in case that a disc manufacturer selects to record 2^(nd) WS(WS-2), ‘0000 0010b’ is written in the ‘Write Strategy Type’ field andparameters fitting the 2^(nd) WS will be written in the L^(th)˜111^(th)bytes. The parameters written in the L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes havedifferent values from each other according to the write strategy (WS)type. And, the corresponding write strategy (WS) parameters arepreviously determined as specified information fitting thecharacteristics of the disc and will be provided to a disc manufactureror a system designer.

FIGS. 4C to 4E show specific embodiments for a method of recording theabove-defined write strategy (WS) within disc information. FIG. 4C andFIG. 4D show the method that the write strategy (WS) is optionallyselected to be recorded for the entire recording layers and recordingvelocities on manufacturing a disc. And, FIG. 4E shows a method ofrecording a previously determined write strategy (WS) in a mandatorymanner in case of a specific recording velocity.

For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that a disc includes adual layer and that 1× speed (1×) and 2× speed (2×) are applied to eachrecording layer.

FIG. 4C shows a case of enabling to optionally different record writestrategies (WS) in the entire recording layers and at the entirerecording velocities. For instance, disc information of 1× speed of afirst recording layer Layer0 is recorded in ‘00h’ as a disc informationsequence and 1^(st) WS (WS-1) is selected to be recorded as a writestrategy (WS). Disc information of 1× speed of a second recording layerLayer1 is recorded in ‘01h’ and 2^(nd) WS (WS-2) is selected to berecorded as a write strategy (WS). Disc information of 2× speed of thefirst recording layer Layer0 is recorded in ‘02h’ and I″ WS (WS-1) isselected to be recorded as a write strategy (WS). And, disc informationof 2× speed of the second recording layer Layer1 is recorded in ‘03h’and N^(th) WS (WS-N) is selected to be recorded as a write strategy(WS). In such a case, write strategy parameters for 1^(st) WS (WS-1),e.g., (n−1) write strategy type, to be used for 1× speed of a firstrecording layer (Layer 0) may have different values from that to be usedfor 2× speed of the a first recording layer (Layer 0).

FIG. 4D shows another example of enabling to optionally record a writestrategy (WS), in which the same type of write strategy (WS) is appliedto disc information of the entire recording layers and recordingvelocities. In such a case, write strategy parameters for specificrecording layer and/or writing speed may have different values from thatfor other recording layer and/or writing speed respectively.

Namely, since it is able to record a write strategy optionally, a discmanufacturer enables to apply one most reliable write strategy (WS) tothe entire disc information identically. And, FIG. 4D illustrates a casethat 1^(st) WS (WS-1) is recorded in the entire disc information.

FIG. 4E shows a method of recording a write strategy (WS) previouslydetermined in a mandatory manner in case of a specific recordingvelocity or a write strategy (WS) optionally in case of a rest recordingvelocity. Generally, write strategy (WS) for 1× speed is the mostimportant write strategy of which specific method is previously decidedby a specified decision and a disc manufacturer enables to optionallyrecord the rest recording velocities except the 1× speed. Yet, in caseof a high-speed disc, it is apparent that the recording velocity decidedin a mandatory manner can be 2× speed, 3× speed, or the like as well as1× speed.

For instance, if a type of a write strategy (WS) mandatory for the 1×speed is 1^(st) WS (WS-1), disc information for 1× speed of a firstrecording layer is written in ‘00h’ and ‘01h’ as a disc informationsequence and the 1^(st) WS (WS-1) should be written as the writestrategy (WS) in a mandatory manner. Disc information for 2× speed ofthe first recording layer is written in ‘02h’ and ‘03h’ and 2^(nd) WS(WS-2) is selected to be recorded as the write strategy (WS) that can beoptionally recorded. Hence, if the write strategy (WS) type mandatoryfor 1× speed is the 2^(nd) WS (WS-2), it is apparent that the 2^(nd) WS(WS-2) should be recorded in a mandatory manner as well as ‘00h’ and‘01h’ as the disc information sequence record the disc information of 1×speed therein.

In applying the case of FIG. 4E, one of a plurality of specified writestrategies is uniformly written as the 1× speed write strategy (WS) in amandatory manner, thereby enabling to secure more disc recordingcharacteristics. And, a disc manufacturer enables to optionally recordone of a plurality of the specified write strategies uniformly for therest recording velocities except the 1× speed, whereby a discmanufacturing process time can be shortened.

Besides, in specific case of FIG. 4E, it is also able to record themandatory write strategy (WS) for 1× speed as well as a discmanufacturer enables to optionally record other write strategy (WS) for1× speed separately. In such a case, the disc information for 1× speedcan include disc information including the specified mandatory writestrategy (WS) and different disc information including the optionalwrite strategy (WS). This will be explained in the description of athird embodiment of the present invention in detail later.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams of an another example of recording discinformation according to a second embodiment of the present invention,in which ‘applicable writing speed information’ and ‘recording layerinformation existing within disc’ are recorded within the correspondingdisc information as well as one of a plurality types of write strategies(WS) defined by a specification.

Referring to FIG. 5A, ‘DI frame sequence number in DI block’ is providedto 5^(th) byte of each disc information to mean a sequence, which meansthat disc informations are configured in a specific sequence in the samemanner of FIG. 4A. And, ‘Write Strategy Type (WS)’field is provided to aspecific area (N^(th) byte) within disc information to record a type ofWS applied to the corresponding disc information.

Besides, writing speed information applicable by a corresponding disc isrecorded within a specific area (M^(th) byte) within disc information,which is named ‘Writing speed flag’ field.

For instance, whether a specific writing speed of eight kinds of writingspeeds is applicable by the corresponding disc is represented by 1-biteach in the same area having 1-byte allocated thereto. Namely, it can bedefined that the corresponding writing speed is not applicable(supported) if a bit value is ‘0b’ in entire bits or that thecorresponding writing speed is applicable (supported) if the bit valueis ‘1b’. Hence, each of the bits b0˜b7 within 1-byte becomes flaginformation indicating presence or non-presence of applicability of aspecific writing speed.

For instance, if 1× speed is applicable by a corresponding disc only,‘0000 0001’ is written in N^(th) byte. If all of the eight kinds ofwriting speeds are applicable, ‘1111 1111’ is written in the N^(th)byte.

In the above explanation, 1× and 2× speeds utilized by every disc almostare previously decided to be adopted. Yet, writing speeds decided byspecification can be used as the rest writing speeds from 3^(rd) writingspeed. For instance, it is possible to set 3^(rd), 4^(th), 5^(th),6^(th) 7^(th), and 8^(th) writing speeds (3^(rd)×, 4^(th)×, 5^(th)×,6^(th)×, 7^(th)×, 8^(th)×) to 5×, 6×, 8×, 12×, 14×, and 16× speeds,respectively.

Meanwhile, recording layer information indicating the number ofrecording layer(s) existing within the corresponding disc is recorded inanother specific area (L^(th) byte) within the disc information, whichis named ‘Number of Recording Layer’ field. For instance, a valuemeaning the number of the recording layer(s) can be represented by abinary number in the same area having 1-byte allocated thereto. In casethat the recording layer is the single layer in FIG. 1, ‘0000 0001’ iswritten in the L^(th) byte. In case that the recording layer is the duallayer in FIG. 2, ‘0000 0010’ is written in the L^(th) byte. In case thatfour recording layers exist, ‘0000 0100’ is written in the L^(th) byte.

Since limitation is put on the number of the currently consideredrecording layer(s), which is currently two recording layers, 4-bitswithin the L^(th) byte are enough to represent total fifteen recordinglayers (in case of ‘1111’). In such a case, it is apparent that othervalid information can be written in the rest area (4-bits) of the L^(th)byte.

Moreover, a specific ‘Write Strategy (WS) parameters’ fieldinteroperating with a ‘Write Strategy (WS) Type’ field value of theN^(th) byte is provided to another specific area (P^(th)˜111^(th) bytes)to record associated information therein.

Thus, from the above-recorded ‘writing speed information’ in the M^(th)byte and the ‘recording layer information’ in the L^(th) byte, a recordplayback apparatus (FIG. 9) recognizes how many disc informations existwithin the corresponding disc. Namely, the number of the existing discinformations is found by multiplying an applicable writing speed numberby the number of recording layers.

As the present invention applies one write strategy (WS) to a specificwriting speed and a specific recording layer, the kind (type) and numberof the write strategy (WS) may not be taken into consideration indeciding the number of disc information(s). Yet, in a third embodimentof the present invention (FIG. 6˜FIG. 8), it will be described that aplurality of write strategies (WS) can exist for a specific writingspeed and a specific recording layer. In such a case, the total numberof the existing disc informations is not always found by multiplying anapplicable writing speed number by the number of recording layers. Thiswill be explained in detail later in FIG. 6.

Hence, a sequence of a plurality of the above-decided disc informationsis decided by the sequence numbers, which is written in the 5^(th) bytein the foregoing description, and each of the disc informationsdesignates the previously decided writing speed and recording layer bythe sequence.

For example, by knowing that four writing speeds applicable by a discexist if the N^(th) byte is ‘0000 1111’ and that two recording layersexist within the disc if the L^(th) byte is ‘0000 0010’, total eightdisc informations are needed so that the sequence will be ‘00h˜07h’.And, it is previously decided that disc informations of ‘00h’, ‘01h’,‘02h’, ‘03h’, ‘04h’, ‘05h’, ‘06h’, and ‘07h’ relate to ‘1× speed, 1^(st)recording layer’, ‘1× speed, 2^(nd) recording layer’, ‘2× speed, 1^(st)recording layer’, ‘2× speed, 2^(nd) recording layer’, ‘3rd writingspeed, 1^(st) recording layer’, ‘3^(rd) writing speed, 2^(nd) recordinglayer’, ‘4^(th) writing speed, 1^(st) recording layer’, and ‘4^(th)writing speed, 2^(nd) recording layer’.

Hence, in order to acquire the disc information for a specific targetwriting speed and a specific target recording layer, the record playbackapparatus (FIG. 10) is facilitated to check which disc information isrelated to the specific target writing speed and recording layer from‘writing speed information’ of the N^(th) byte and ‘recording layerinformation’ of the L^(th) byte commonly recorded within the respectivedisc informations instead of playing back to check the entire discinformations.

FIG. 5B shows an example of recording disc information according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 5A. It can be knownthat there are two (1×, 2×) applicable writing speeds from M^(th) byte(‘0000 0011b’) commonly recorded in the entire disc informations andthat two recording layers exist within a disc from L^(th) byte (‘00000010b’).

Hence, in the example of FIG. 5B, total four disc informations (tworecording layers*two writing speeds) exist and a sequence of the discinformations becomes ‘00h’ (1×,L0)→‘01h’ (1×,L1)→‘02h’ (2×,L0)→‘03h’(2×,L1). This is done by a specified content according to apredetermined sequence. Thus, the entire disc informations should beconfigured according to the above manner to enable reciprocalcompatibility for utilization.

An intrinsic write strategy (WS) is recorded within each discinformation. Specifically, information of a type of a write strategy(WS) written in P^(th)˜111^(th) bytes within the corresponding discinformation is recorded in N^(th) byte. Namely, informations in theN^(th) and P^(th)˜111^(th) bytes can differ in each disc information,which means that a disc manufacturer enables to optionally record one ofa plurality of WSs.

In the example in FIG. 5B, ‘00h’ (1×,L0) and ‘01h’ (1×,L1) relate to theapplication of a first type write strategy (WS-1) and ‘02h’ (2×,L0) and‘03h’ (2×,L1) relate to the application of a second type write strategy(WS-2).

FIG. 5C shows another example of recording disc information according tothe second embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 5A. It can beknown that there are eight (1×, 2×, . . . , 16×) applicable writingspeeds from M^(th) byte (‘1111 1111b’) commonly recorded in the entiredisc informations and that four recording layers exist within a discfrom L^(th) byte (‘0000 0100b’).

Hence, in the another example of FIG. 5C, total thirty-two discinformations (four recording layers*eight writing speeds) exist and asequence of the disc informations becomes ‘00h’ (1×,L0)→‘01h’(1×,L1)→‘02h’ (1×,L2)→‘03h’ (1×,L4)→‘04h’ (2×,L0)→ . . . →‘31h’(16×,L4). This is done by a specified content according to apredetermined sequence. Thus, the entire disc informations should beconfigured according to the above manner to enable reciprocalcompatibility for utilization.

In the another example of FIG. 5C, if a record playback unit (FIG. 10)intends to search disc information related to 2× speed (2×,L0) of afirst recording layer to perform recording by applying a write strategy(WS) within the corresponding disc information, it can be known from theinformations in the M^(th) and L^(th) bytes commonly recorded in theentire disc informations that total thirty-two disc informations (fourrecording layers*eight writing speeds) exist in the corresponding discaccording to the sequence of the disc informations such as ‘00h’(1×,L0)→‘01h’(1×,L1)→‘02h’(1×,L2)→‘03h’(1×,L4)→‘04h’(2×,L0) → . . .→‘31h’ (16×,L4). Hence, the record playback apparatus (FIG. 9) enablesto recognize that the disc information related to the 2× speed (2×,L0)of the first recording layer to be searched is ‘04h’ and that thecorresponding disc information (‘04h’) is recorded as the first typewrite strategy (WS-1) from the write strategy (WS) type identificationinformation (‘0000 0001b’) recorded in the N^(th) byte within thecorresponding information (‘04h’), thereby reading out parameter valuesof the first type write strategy (WS-1) via the P^(th)˜111^(th) bytes toutilize in the recording.

Likewise, if intending to search disc information related to 16× speed(16×,L3) of a fourth recording layer to perform recording by applying awrite strategy (WS) within the corresponding disc information, therecord playback unit (FIG. 9) recognizes that the corresponding discinformation is ‘31h’ via the same process and that the write strategytype (WS) is the second type (WS-2), thereby enabling to utilize them inthe recording.

FIGS. 6 to 8 shows a method of recording disc information of an opticaldisc according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Thesecond embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that atleast one write strategy (WS) is configured for a same writingspeed/recording layer. Namely, a plurality of disc informationsassociated with the same writing speed/recording layer can exist to beclassified by WS types, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a concept of the method of recording disc information ofthe optical disc according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a sequence for disc information each is decided bya sequence number and is recorded by 1-byte.

For instance, the information is recorded in 5^(th) byte within discinformation, is named ‘DI frame sequence number in DI block’, and isbriefly represented by ‘00h, 01h, 02h, . . . ’. Namely, if theinformation of the 5^(th) byte is ‘00h’, it means 1^(st) discinformation. If the information of the 5^(th) byte is ‘07h’, it means8^(th) disc information.

In configuring disc information, the present invention is characterizedin that disc information is separately provided per writing speed, perrecording layer, and per write strategy (WS) and that a configurationsequence of a plurality of the separately provided disc informations isuniformly decided according to a predetermined manner.

For instance, if a corresponding optical disc includes a pair ofrecoding layers and a plurality of WS types exist, disc informations canbe configured in a following manner.

‘00h’ of 1^(st) disc information is related to 1× speed, 1^(st)recording layer L0, and WS1. ‘01h’ of 2^(nd) disc information is relatedto 1× speed, 1^(st) recording layer L0, and WS2. ‘02h’ of 3^(rd) discinformation is related to 1× speed, 2^(nd) recording layer L1, and WS1.‘03h’ of 4^(th) disc information is related to 1× speed, 2^(nd)recording layer L1, and WS2. ‘04h’ of 5^(th) disc information is relatedto 2× speed, 1^(st) recording layer L0, and WS1. ‘05h’ of 6^(th) discinformation is related to 2× speed and 1^(st) recording layer L0, andWS3. ‘06h’ of 7^(th) disc information is related to 2× speed, 2^(nd)recording layer L1, and WS1. And, ‘07h’ of 8^(th) disc information isrelated to 2× speed, 2^(nd) recording layer L1, and WS3.

Namely, in configuring disc informations, the third embodiment accordingto the present invention is characterized in that at least one discinformation is configured per writing speed, the respective per writingspeed disc informations are reconfigured per recording layer, and atleast one WS type is provided to each recording layer.

Hence, in configuring disc informations for the same writingspeed/recording layer, it is able to configure a plurality of discinformations according to WS types.

FIG. 7A exemplarily shows a method of configuring disc informationaccording the third embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7A, ‘DI frame sequence number in DI block’ is providedto 5^(th) byte of each disc information to mean a sequence, which meansthat disc informations are configured in a specific order (writingspeed→recording layer→WS type) of priority in FIG. 6.

And, ‘Write Strategy (WS) Type’ field (N^(th) byte), ‘Writing speedflag’ field (M^(th) byte), ‘Number of Recording Layer’ field (L^(th)byte), and ‘Write Strategy (WS) parameters’ field (P^(th)˜111^(th)bytes) are recorded in N^(th), M^(th), L^(th), and P^(th)˜111^(th)bytes, respectively. Meaning of each information recorded in the fieldsis the same of that of the second embodiment (FIG. 5A).

In FIG. 7A, ‘Writing speed flag=0000 0111b’ of M^(th) byte means thatthree kinds of writing speeds are applicable. And, ‘Number of Recordinglayer=0000 0010b’ of L^(th) byte means two recording layers exist.

Moreover, information informing a write strategy (WS) type applicable bya corresponding disc via specification is recorded in another specificarea (K^(th) byte) within disc information, which is named ‘WriteStrategy (WS) flag’ field. For instance, whether a specific writestrategy (WS) of eight kinds of write strategy (WS) types is applicableby the corresponding disc is represented by 1-bit each in the same areahaving 1-byte allocated thereto. Namely, it can be defined that thecorresponding write strategy (WS) is not applicable (supported) if a bitvalue is ‘0b’ in entire bits or that the corresponding write strategy(WS) is applicable (supported) if the bit value is ‘1b’. Hence, each ofthe bits b0˜b7 within 1-byte becomes flag information indicatingpresence or non-presence of applicability of a specific write strategy(WS) type. For instance, if 1^(st) to 3^(rd) write strategy (WS) typesWS1 to WS3 are applicable by a corresponding disc only, ‘0000 0111b’ iswritten in L^(th) byte. If all of the eight kinds of write strategy (WS)types WS1 to WS8 are applicable, ‘1111 1111b’ is written in the L^(th)byte. In FIG. 7A, ‘0000 1111b’ is written in the K^(th) byte to allowfour write strategy (WS) types WS1 to WS4.

By writing the M^(th), L^(th), and K^(th) byte informations recordedwithin the disc information by the same values in common to the entiredisc informations, respectively, the record playback apparatus (FIG. 10)is facilitated to acquire the informations of the writing speedapplicable by the corresponding disc, the write strategy (WS) type, andthe number of the recording layers despite playing back any discinformation.

Specifically, it may be able to record all kinds of the write strategy(WS) types applicable by specifications in configuring the discinformations. Yet, in such a case, the number of the recorded discinformations excessively increases. Moreover, a disc manufacturer shouldtest the entire write strategy (WS) types and record the test resultswithin the disc information, whereby it becomes a burden.

Therefore, in the embodiment according to the present invention, writestrategies (WS) of which number (m) is smaller than that (n) of themaximum applicable write strategy types are recordable per writing speedwithin disc information and a disc manufacturer further enables tooptionally record a specific one of a plurality of write strategies(WS), whereby disc manufacturer's convenience is secured as well as anefficient recording of disc information is enabled.

In FIG. 7A, recording is performed at 1× speed (1×) using 1^(st) and2^(nd) type write strategies WS1 and WS2, at 2× speed (2×) using 2^(nd)and 3^(rd) type write strategies WS2 and WS3, or at 3^(rd) writing speed(3×) using 3^(rd) and 4^(th) type write strategies WS3 and WS4.

Namely, it is able to record disc information using write strategy (WS)types (two types) less than total applicable write strategy (WS) types(four types) per writing speed. And, it is able to confirm or verify theintrinsic write strategy (WS) applied to each disc information via‘Write Strategy (WS0 Type’ field (N^(th) byte) and ‘Write Strategy (WS)parameters’ field (Pth˜¹¹1^(th) bytes).

FIG. 7B shows another example of recording disc information according tothe third embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 6. Like FIG. 7A,three kinds of applicable writing speeds exist and ‘0000 0111b’ iswritten in M^(th) byte. Four applicable write strategy types exist and‘0000 1111b’ is written in K^(th) byte. And, two recording layers existwithin a disc and ‘0000 0010b’ is written in L^(th) byte.

Referring to FIG. 7B, in configuring disc informations using one of aplurality of applicable write strategies (WS), at least one discinformation is configured per the same writing speed and recordinglayer. In doing so, the most preferentially provided disc information isdefined as a preferred WS provided by a disc manufacturer and anotherdisc information following the preferred WS is defined as an alternativeWS.

Namely, both disc information ‘00h’ and disc information ‘01h’ relate to1× speed (1×) and 1^(st) recording layer (L0). Yet, the WS1 typerecorded in ‘00h’ as preferentially provided disc information becomesthe preferred WS and the WS1 type information recorded in ‘01h’ as anext provided one becomes the alternative WS.

And, disc information ‘04h’, disc information ‘05h’, and discinformation ‘06h’ relate to 2× speed (2×) and 1^(st) recording layer(L0). Yet, the WS2 type information recorded in ‘04h’ as preferentiallyprovided disc information becomes the preferred WS, and the WS1 typeinformation recorded in ‘05h’ and the WS3 type information recorded in‘06h’ as next provided ones become the alternative WSs, respectively.Namely, they can be applied to at least three disc informations of thesame writing speed/recording layer.

Moreover, disc information ‘10h’ relates to 3^(rd) speed (3^(rd)×) and1^(st) recording layer (L0) and disc information ‘11h’ relates to 3^(rd)speed (3^(rd)×) and 2^(nd) recording layer (L0). In case that only oneWS type information is provided to the same writing speed/recordinglayer, the provided WS becomes the preferred WS.

Namely, when a disc manufacturer provides disc information within a discaccording to the previously determined specification, an optical recordplayback apparatus (FIG. 9) reads out the disc information in a specificorder (writing speed→recording layer). If a plurality of discinformations exist on the same writing speed/recording layer, theoptical record playback apparatus (FIG. 10) recognizes thepreferentially provided WS within the disc information as the preferredWS and the next WS as the alternative WS additionally provided by a discmanufacturer, thereby enabling record playback using disc informationefficiently.

Even if both of the preferred WS and the alternative WS are ‘optionalWS’ a disc manufacturer enables to select optionally, it may be possibleto render the preferred WS into ‘mandatory WS’ and the alternative WSinto ‘optional WS’ only.

FIG. 8 shows another example of recording disc information according tothe third embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 6, in which a discmanufacturer directly provides information of a most preferred writestrategy (WS) type at a specific writing speed.

Referring to FIG. 8, ‘Write Strategy (WS) Type’ field (N^(th) byte),‘Writing speed flag’ field (M^(th) byte), ‘Write Strategy (WS) flag’field (K^(th) byte), ‘Number of Recording Layer’ field (L^(th) byte),and ‘Write Strategy (WS) parameters’ field (P^(th)˜111^(th) bytes) arerecorded in N^(th), M^(th), K^(th), L^(th), and P^(th)˜111^(th) bytes,respectively. Meaning of each information recorded in the fields is thesame of that of the second embodiment (FIG. 7B).

And, ‘Best WS flag in Writing speed’ field is provided to anotherspecific area (Q^(th) byte) within disc information, whereby a discmanufacturer provides information of a WS indicating a best qualityamong a plurality of write strategies (WS) existing per same writingspeed. For example, FIG. 8 shows that 2^(nd) WS (WS2) is the ‘Best WS’of eight applicable WSs at a specific writing speed.

In case that a plurality of WSs enable to exist for the same writingspeed/recording layer like FIG. 7A, an optical record playback apparatus(FIG. 10) is unable to distinguish which is the most appropriate WS fora corresponding writing speed. Hence, the optical record play backapparatus computes the optimal WS by applying the entire WSs provided tothe disc information. Yet, by providing the ‘Best WS flag in Writingspeed’ field to the Q^(th) byte, it is able to apply to utilize the WSrecorded in the Q^(th) byte preferentially.

In case that a plurality of WSs exist for the same writingspeed/recording layer like FIG. 7B, it is able to recognize the WSrecorded in 1^(st) disc information as the preferred WS by a previouslyspecified decided method. Yet, by providing the ‘Best WS flag in Writingspeed’ field to the Q^(th) byte, it is able to reconfirm the preferredWS as well. Moreover, in case that the preferred WS recorded in the1^(st) disc information for the same writing speed/recording layer isdifferent from the ‘Best WS flag in Writing speed’ information of theQ^(th) byte, e.g., if the preferred WS is ‘mandatory WS’ decided in amandatory manner, a priority is given to the information of the Q^(th)byte provided by a disc manufacturer, thereby enabling to provide theinformation more efficiently in deciding the optimal WS at the samewriting speed.

FIG. 9A to 9E are a diagram of recording control information accordingto the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The recording controlinformation is dependent on a recording method, e.g., CLV mode or CAVmode, in which information for identifying a type of disc information,e.g., CLV mode or CAV mode is recorded within disc information withanother information enabling to identify a type of write strategy (WS)finally used.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the information enabling to identify a writestrategy (WS) type is to identify which one of a plurality of specifiedwrite strategies (WS) was selected to be used by a disc manufacturer,whereas the information for identifying a disc information type enablesto identify whether corresponding disc information is in CLV mode or CAVmode. For instance, as mentioned in the foregoing description, variouswrite strategy types, which can exist such as (n−1) WS, n/2 WS, etc.,are defined as 1^(st) WS WS-1, 2^(nd) WS WS-2, and K^(th) WS WS-K. And,the information identifying the write strategy type (named ‘WS Type’)selected by a disc manufacturer is recorded within disc information.

FIG. 9B is a diagram of recording a write strategy within controlinformation according to the fourth embodiment of the present inventionin FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9C is a diagram of another example of recording awrite strategy within control information according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9B shows that a disc manufacturer optionally records a specificwrite strategy (WS) for entire writing speeds in recording one of aplurality of write strategies (WS).

Referring to FIG. 9B, N^(th) byte of disc information indicates a discinformation type, P^(th) byte of disc information indicates a writestrategy (WS) type, and parameters associated with one write strategy(WS) decided by interworking with the N^(th) and P^(th) bytes arerecorded in L^(th)˜11^(th) bytes.

For instance, disc information for 1× speed of 1^(st) recording layer isrecorded in ‘00h’ as a disc information sequence, a disc informationtype means a CAV mode, a write strategy (WS) type means 1^(st) WS WS-1,and a write strategy (WS) interworks with them so that a CAV WS-1 isselected to be recorded. Disc information for 2× speed of 1^(st)recording layer is recorded in ‘01h’, a disc information type means aCLV mode, a write strategy (WS) type means 1^(st) WS WS-1, and a writestrategy (WS) interworks with them so that a CLV WS-1 is selected to berecorded. Disc information for 4× speed of 1^(st) recording layer isrecorded in ‘02h’, a disc information type means a CLV mode, a writestrategy (WS) type means 2^(nd) WS WS-2, and a write strategy (WS)interworks with them so that a CLV WS-2 is selected to be recorded. Discinformation for 8× speed of 1^(st) recording layer is recorded in ‘03h’,a disc information type means a CAV mode, a write strategy (WS) typemeans 2^(nd) WS WS-2, and a write strategy (WS) interworks with them sothat a CAV WS-2 is selected to be recorded.

FIG. 9C shows that one of a plurality of write strategies (WS) isrecorded within disc information, in which a mandatory write strategy(WS) type is recorded for a specific specified writing speed (e.g., 1×speed) but a disc manufacturer optionally records a specific writestrategy (WS) for the rest writing speeds.

Hence, the method in FIG. 9C differs from the method in FIG. 9B in thata write strategy (WS) type is decided in a mandatory manner by puttinglimitation on disc manufacturer's options for a specific writing speed(1× speed). This enables a manufacturer of a disc recording/reproducingapparatus (FIG. 10) to design to manufacture inexpensive products copingwith one write strategy (WS) type only.

For instance, disc information for 1× speed of 1^(st) recording layer isrecorded in ‘00h’ as a disc information sequence, a disc informationtype means a CAV mode, a write strategy (WS) type means 1^(st) WS WS-1,and a write strategy (WS) interworks with them so that a CAV WS-1 isselected in a mandatory manner to be recorded. Disc information for 2×speed of 1^(st) recording layer is recorded in ‘01h’, a disc informationtype means a CLV mode, a write strategy (WS) type means 1^(st) WS WS-1,and a write strategy (WS) interworks with them so that a CLV WS-1 isselected to be recorded. Disc information for 4× speed of 1^(st)recording layer is recorded in ‘02h’, a disc information type means aCLV mode, a write strategy (WS) type means 2^(nd) WS WS-2, and a writestrategy (WS) interworks with them so that a CLV WS-2 is selected to berecorded. Disc information for 8× speed of 1^(st) recording layer isrecorded in ‘03h’, a disc information type means a CAV mode, a writestrategy (WS) type means 2^(nd) WS WS-2, and a write strategy (WS)interworks with them so that a CAV WS-2 is selected to be recorded.

FIG. 9D shows another example of recording control information accordingto the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which specificidentification for CAV mode is subdivided to be applied to ‘DI Type’field written in N^(th) byte within disc information and in whichinformation designating a write strategy (WS) type is recorded as well.

Referring to FIG. 9D, in case that corresponding disc information meansCAV mode, this is subdivided to identify how many velocities areprovided by a write strategy (WS). Hence, ‘DI Type’ field can be definedas follows. If ‘DI Type’ field recorded in N^(th) byte is ‘0000 0001b’,it means CAV mode and a write strategy (WS) recorded in L^(th)˜111^(th)bytes is recorded to correspond to one kind of velocity only. If ‘DIType’ field recorded in N^(th) byte is ‘0000 0010b’, it means CAV modeand a write strategy (WS) recorded in L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes is recordedto correspond to two kinds of velocities. If ‘DI Type’ field recorded inN^(th) byte is ‘0000 0011b’, it means CAV mode and a write strategy (WS)recorded in L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes is recorded to correspond to threekinds of velocities.

Moreover, ‘Write Strategy (WS) Type’ field is added to P^(th) bytewithin disc information so that L^(th)˜111^(th) write strategy (WS) isrecorded by interworking with a disc information type in N^(th) byte anda write strategy (WS) type in P^(th) byte. Namely, it can be defined asfollows. If ‘0000 0000b’ is written in P^(th) byte, it means 1^(st) WSWS-1. If ‘0000 0010b’ is written in P^(th) byte, it means 2^(nd) WSWS-2. And, if ‘XXXX XXXXb’ is written in P^(th) byte, it means K^(th) WSWS-K.

FIG. 9E is a diagram of recording a write strategy within controlinformation comparable to FIG. 9D.

Referring to FIG. 9E, ‘0000 0000b’ is written in ‘DI Type’ field ofN^(th) byte to mean CLV mode. ‘0000 0001b’ is written in ‘Write Strategy(WS) Type’ field of P^(th) byte to mean 1 WS WS-1. 5^(th) byte is ‘00h’to mean 1× speed disc information of 1 recording layer. And, a specificwrite strategy (WS) interworking with the N^(th) and P^(th) bytes iswritten in L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes within a disc.

As it is a CLV mode, a write strategy (WS) for one kind of velocity isrecorded. As it is 1^(st) WS WS-1, parameters by ‘(n−1) WS’ type aredefined for example. Accordingly, a disc manufacturer records an optimalvalue in a corresponding disc.

If ‘DI Type’ field (N^(th) byte) is set to ‘0000 0001b’ to mean a CAVmode, or if ‘Write Strategy (WS) Type’ field is set to ‘0000 0010b’ tomean 2^(nd) WS WS-2, it is apparent that write strategy (WS) parameterswritten in L^(th)˜111^(th) bytes should be recorded as new contentsdifferent from the parameters specified in FIG. 9E or the values of thecorresponding parameters.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an optical disc record playback accordingto the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, a record playback apparatus according to thepresent invention includes a record playback unit 10 carrying out recordplayback on an optical disc and a control unit 20 controlling the recordplayback unit 10.

The control unit 20 gives a record or playback command for a specificarea, and the record playback unit 10 caries out the record/playback forthe specific area according to the command of the control unit 20.Specifically, the record playback unit 10 includes an interface unit 12performing communications with an external device, a pickup unit 11directly recording data on the optical disc or playing back the data, adata processor 13 receiving a playback signal from the pickup unit 11 torestore into a necessary signal value or modulating to deliver a signalto be recorded into a signal to be recorded on the optical disc, a servounit 14 reading out a signal from the optical disc correctly orcontrolling the pickup unit 11 to record a signal on the optical disccorrectly, a memory 15 temporarily storing disc control informationincluding disc control information, and a microcomputer 16 responsiblefor controlling the above-described elements within the record playbackunit 10.

A recording process of an optical disc according to the presentinvention is explained in detail as follows.

First of all, once an optical disc is loaded in the optical recordplayback apparatus, the entire disc management information within thedisc is read out to be temporarily stored in the memory 15 of the recordplayback unit 10. Also, a specific disc management information only canbe read from the optical disc. And, various kinds of the disc managementinformation are utilized for the record/playback of the optical disc.Specifically, the management information stored in the memory 15includes disc control information of the present invention. Hence, therecording layer information, writing speed information, and writestrategy fitting the corresponding writing speed recorded within thedisc information are read out to be stored in the memory.

If intending to perform a recording on a specific area within theoptical disc, the control unit 20 renders such an intent into a writingcommand and then delivers it to the record playback unit 10 togetherwith data for writing location information to be recorded. Afterreceiving the writing command, the microcomputer 16 decides or selectsthe corresponding writing speed to be applied to an intended recordinglayer within the optical disc from the management informations stored inthe memory 15 and then performs the writing command using a(pre-)determined or selected write strategy type and the write strategyparameters applicable to the decided or selected writing speed.

Specifically, in case that the recording is performed on the opticaldisc by the present invention, the disc information as managementinformation is provided in a specific order and the microcomputer 16recognizes which WS is the preferred WS of the disc manufacturer in thesame writing speed/recording layer. Therefore, it is more facilitated toperform the recording on a specific recoding layer within an opticaldisc at a specific writing speed.

Accordingly, the present invention provides various methods of providingdisc control information coping with higher writing speed in ahigh-density optical disc, thereby enabling to uniformly apply thestandardized disc control information to efficiently cope with therecord/playback of the optical disc.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus,it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A data structure of a control information for use with a recordingmedium having multi-recording layers, the control information includingfirst information unit for a first recording layer and secondinformation unit for a second recording layer, wherein the firstinformation unit includes write strategy parameters for first writestrategy type to be used for the first recording layer, and the secondinformation unit includes write strategy parameters for second writestrategy type to be used for the second recording layer, the secondwrite strategy type being different from the first write strategy type,and wherein each of the first and second write strategy types is an n−1write strategy type or an n/2 write strategy type, where n is a lengthof mark and each of the n−1 and n/2 represents the number of writepulses to form the mark.
 2. The data structure of claim 1, wherein thedata structure is to record on the recording medium, to record a maindata on the recording medium based on the control information recordedas the data structure in the recording medium, or recorded on therecording medium.
 3. The data structure of claim 2, wherein eachinformation unit includes an identification information identifying thefirst write strategy type and the second write strategy type,respectively.
 4. The data structure of claim 3, wherein eachidentification information identifies one of an n−1 write strategy typeand an n/2 write strategy type, where n is a length of mark and eachtype represents a number of write pulses to form a corresponding mark.5. The data structure of claim 2, wherein the first write strategy typefor the first recording layer and the second write strategy type for thefirst recording layer are same, wherein the first and second writestrategy types are an n−1 write strategy type or an n/2 write strategytype.
 6. The data structure of claim 2, wherein the first write strategytype for the first recording layer and the second write strategy typefor the first recording layer are different, wherein the first writestrategy type is an n−1 write strategy type or an n/2 write strategytype and the second write strategy type is an n−1 write strategy type oran n/2 write strategy type.
 7. The data structure of claim 6, whereinthe first write strategy type is an n−1 write strategy type and thesecond write strategy type is an n/2 write strategy type.
 8. The datastructure of claim 6, wherein the first write strategy type is an n/2write strategy type and the second write strategy type is an n−1 writestrategy type.
 9. The data structure of claim 2, wherein the controlinformation further includes an alternative information unit foralternative write strategy type applicable to each recording layer. 10.The data structure of claim 9, wherein the first write strategy type forthe first recording layer is an n−1 write strategy type and alternativewrite strategy type is an n/2 write strategy type while the second writestrategy type for the second recording layer is an n/2 write strategytype and alternative write strategy type is an n−1 write strategy type,where n is a length of mark and each type represents a number of writepulse to form a corresponding mark.
 11. The data structure of claim 2,wherein each information unit includes a recording layer numberinformation to identify a corresponding recording layer.
 12. The datastructure of claim 2, wherein each information unit includes typeinformation identifying an applicable write strategy type.
 13. A methodof recording data, comprising: reading a control information, thecontrol information including first information unit for a writing speedand first recording layer and second information unit for the samewriting speed and second recording layer, the first information unitincluding write strategy parameters for first write strategy type to beused for the writing speed and first recording layer, and the secondinformation unit including write strategy parameters for second writestrategy type to be used for the same writing speed and second recordinglayer, the second write strategy type being different from the firstwrite strategy type, wherein each of the first and second write strategytypes is an n−1 write strategy type or an n/2 write strategy type, wheren is a length of mark and each of the n−1 and n/2 represents the numberof write pulses to form the mark; and recording a main data at thewriting speed using the corresponding write strategy parameters to thecorresponding recording layer.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: identifying at least one of the first and second informationunits based on an identification information, wherein the recording steprecords the main data on a specific recording layer based on theidentified information unit.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein thesecond write strategy type is same as the first write strategy type,wherein the first and second write strategy types are an n−1 writestrategy type or an n/2 write strategy type.
 16. The method of claim 13,wherein the second write strategy type is different from the first writestrategy type, wherein the first write strategy type is an n−1 writestrategy type and the second write strategy type is an n/2 writestrategy type, further comprising: identifying the corresponding writestrategy type to record the main data to the corresponding recordinglayer.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the second write strategytype is different from the first write strategy type, wherein the firstwrite strategy type is an n/2 write strategy type and the second writestrategy type is an n−1 write strategy type, further comprising:identifying the corresponding write strategy type to record the maindata to the corresponding recording layer.
 18. The method of claim 13,wherein the control information further includes an alternativeinformation unit for alternative write strategy type applicable to eachrecording layer, wherein the recording step records the main data usingone of first write strategy type and the alternative write strategy typefor the first recording layer and using one of second write strategytype and the alternative write strategy type for the second recordinglayer.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first write strategy typefor first recording layer is an n−1 write strategy type and alternativewrite strategy type is an n/2 write strategy type while the second writestrategy type for second recording layer is an n/2 write strategy typeand alternative write strategy type is an n−1 write strategy type, wheren is a length of mark and each type represents a number of write pulseto form a corresponding mark, further comprising: determining acorresponding write strategy type to record the main data on thecorresponding recording layer.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein eachinformation unit includes type information identifying an applicablewrite strategy type, further comprising: identifying an applicable writestrategy type, wherein the recording step records the main dataaccording to the identified applicable write strategy type.
 21. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: specifying a recording layer torecord the main data; and determining a write strategy type based on thedetermination, wherein the recording step records the main data usingwrite strategy parameters for the determined write strategy type on thespecified recording layer.
 22. A method of recording data, comprising:reading a control information, the control information including atleast first information unit for a first recording layer and secondinformation unit for a second recording layer, the first informationunit including write strategy parameters for first write strategy typeto be used for the first recording layer and the second information unitincluding write strategy parameters for second write strategy type to beused for the second recording layer, wherein the first write strategytype is one of an n−1 write strategy type and an n/2 write strategy typeand the second write strategy type is one of an n−1 write strategy typeand an n/2 write strategy type, the first write strategy type beingdifferent from the second write strategy type, where n is a length ofmark and each type represents a number of write pulse to form acorresponding mark; and recording a main data using the write strategyparameters for the first or second write strategy type at thecorresponding recording layer.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein therecording step records the main data using the n−1 write strategy typefor the first recording layer while using the n/2 write strategy typefor the second recording layer.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein therecording step records the main data using the number of pulses one lessthan the mark length to form a corresponding mark for the firstrecording layer, while using the number of pulses corresponding to halfthe mark length to form a corresponding mark for the second recordinglayer, the integer number of pulses from the result being onlyavailable.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein each write strategy typeis applied to the corresponding recording layer with same recordingspeed.
 26. The method of claim 22, further comprising: specifying arecording layer to record the main data, wherein the recording steprecords the main data using write strategy parameters for the writestrategy type for the specified recording layer.
 27. The method of claim26, wherein the recording step records the main data using the n−1 writestrategy type for the first recording layer while using the n/2 writestrategy type for the second recording layer.
 28. The method of claim26, wherein the recording step records the main data using the n/2 writestrategy type for the first recording layer while using the n−1 writestrategy type for the second recording layer.
 29. An apparatus forrecording data, comprising: a controller configured to generate arecording command for a specific recording layer from a multi-layerrecording medium and control a recording operation; and arecorder/reproducer configured to perform a recording of data, based onthe recording command from the controller, by reading a controlinformation, the control information including first information unitfor a first recording layer and second information unit for a secondrecording layer, the first information unit including write strategyparameters for first write strategy type to be used for the firstrecording layer and second information unit including write strategyparameters for second write strategy type to be used for the secondrecording layer, wherein the first write strategy type is one of an n−1write strategy type and an n/2 write strategy type and the second writestrategy type is one of an n−1 write strategy type and an n/2 writestrategy type, the first write strategy type being different from thesecond write strategy type, where n is a length of mark and each typerepresents a number of write pulse to form a corresponding mark, whereinthe recorder/reproducer is configured to perform the recording of dataon the corresponding recording layer using the corresponding writestrategy type, according to a control of the controller.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the controller is configured to identifyat least one of first and second information units based on anidentification information required for identifying a specific writestrategy type, and control the recorder/reproducer to record the maindata on the specific recording layer using write strategy parametersincluded in the identified information unit.
 31. The apparatus of claim29, wherein the controller is configured to specify a recording layer torecord the main data, and determine a write strategy type based on thedetermination, wherein the recorder/reproducer is configured to recordthe main data using write strategy parameters for the determined writestrategy type at the specified recording layer.
 32. The apparatus ofclaim 29, further comprising: a memory configured to store the readcontrol information, wherein the controller is configured to identifythe corresponding information unit based on an identificationinformation identifying the at least one of the first write strategytype and the second write strategy type from the control informationstored in the memory.
 33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the firstwrite strategy type is same as the second write strategy type, whereinthe controller is configured to control the recorder/reproducer torecord the main data using n−1 or n/2 write strategy types to the firstrecording layer or the second recording layer.
 34. The apparatus ofclaim 29, wherein the first write strategy type is different from thesecond write strategy type, wherein the controller is configured tocontrol the recorder/reproducer to record the main data using n−1 writestrategy type to the first recording layer while records the main datausing n/2 write strategy type to the second recording layer.
 35. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the first write strategy type isdifferent from the second write strategy type, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the recorder/reproducer to record the main datausing n/2 write strategy type to the first recording layer while recordsthe main data using n−1 write strategy type to the second recordinglayer.
 36. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each information unitincludes type information identifying an applicable write strategy type,and the controller is configured to control the recorder/reproducer torecord the main data to the corresponding recording layer based on anapplicable write strategy identified by type information.
 37. Anapparatus for recording data, comprising: a writing/reading unitconfigured to read at least one control information and to record a maindata on a specific recording layer from a multi-layer recording medium,the control information including first information unit for a writingspeed and a first recording layer and, second information unit for thesame writing speed and a second recording layer, the first informationunit including write strategy parameters for first write strategy typeto be used for the writing speed and the first recording layer, andsecond information unit including write strategy parameters for secondwrite strategy type to be used for the same writing speed and the secondrecording layer, the second write strategy type being different from thefirst write strategy type, each write strategy type being one an n−1write strategy type and an n/2 write strategy type, where n is a lengthof mark and each type represents a number of write pulse to form acorresponding mark; and a controller configured to control thewriting/reading unit to record the main data on each recording layerbased on at least one of the first and second write strategy types,wherein the controller is configured to determine a specific writestrategy type to record the main data on the corresponding recordinglayer and apply the determined write strategy type applicable to thecorresponding recording layer.
 38. The apparatus of claim 37, whereinthe controller is configured to control the writing/reading unit suchthat the n−1 write strategy type is applied to the first recording layerand the n/2 write strategy type is applied to the second recordinglayer.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the writing/reading unit to record the main datausing the number of pulses one less than the mark length to form acorresponding mark for the first recording layer, while using the numberof pulses corresponding to half the mark length to form a correspondingmark for the second recording layer, the integer number of pulses fromthe result being only available.
 40. The apparatus of claim 37, whereinthe controller is configured to control the writing/reading unit suchthat the n/2 write strategy type is applied to the first recording layerand the n−1 write strategy type is applied to the second recordinglayer.
 41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the controller isconfigured to control the writing/reading unit to record the main datausing the number of pulses corresponding to half the mark length to forma corresponding mark for the second recording layer, the integer numberof pulses from the result being only available, while using the numberof pulses one less than the mark length to form a corresponding mark forthe first recording layer.
 42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein thecontroller is configured to specify a recording layer to record the maindata, and determine a write strategy type based on the determination,wherein the writing/reading unit is configured to record the main datausing write strategy parameters for the determined write strategy typeat the specified recording layer, according to the control of thecontroller.